9 true crime books to read before they become movies

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Make no mistake, true crime should never be considered "trendy."

It's upsetting, terrifying, and the victims of these unsettling crimes deserve to be respected.

However, the genre has a big presence in today's popular culture. Over the past few years, podcasts like "Serial," "S-Town," and "My Favorite Murder" have gained a captive audience.

Some stories have even made their way onto the big screen. Shows like "The Jinx," "The Keepers," and "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" received critical and popular acclaim — and popular directors Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino are turning other gruesome crimes into major motion pictures.

If you're fascinated with true crime and want to learn more about the cases you see in you favorite movies and television programs, here are nine books to add to your reading list.

"The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America" by Erik Larson

Amazon

Erik Larson's book is about two men who shaped Chicago's historic World's Columbian Exposition: Daniel Hudson Burnham, famous architect and the fair's director, and H.H. Holmes, one of America's first serial killers who went on a murderous spree during the exposition.

"The Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule

Amazon

Regarded as the "queen of true crime," Ann Rule worked with Ted Bundy at a crisis hotline before he was convicted of murdering 36 women. "The Stranger Beside Me" follows her chilling realization that her shy colleague was actually one of America's most infamous serial killers.

According to Variety, Zac Efron will star as Ted Bundy in the upcoming drama "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile."

"The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson" by Jeffrey Toobin

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FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" took home nine Emmys last year — and was reportedly adapted from Jeffrey Toobin's book. "The Run of His Life" covers everything from the gruesome deaths of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman, to the historic Bronco chase, to the polarizing verdict.

"JonBenet: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation" by Steve Thomas

Amazon

It's been over 20 years since six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered in her parent's Boulder, Colorado home and America's still looking for answers. Last year, CBS debuted "The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey," which offered controversial theories over what happened to the pageant star.

A former detective in the case, author Steve Thomas talks about the mystery that still looms over it in his book.

"Entering Hades: The Double Life of a Serial Killer" by John Leake

When the celebrated author and playwright moved to Los Angeles, Jack Unterweger began pursuing a career in journalism and reported the murders of several sex workers. His articles were so detailed because he was the person responsible for the disturbing crimes.

You can read all about Unterweger's double life in John Leake's book "Entering Hades."

"Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir' by Amanda Knox

Amazon

Amanda Knox is best known for being falsely accused of murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher while studying abroad in 2007. In her book "Waiting to Be Heard," Knox chronicles her life since 2011, when she was first cleared of the vicious crime.

For an in-depth look at the murder investigation, you can watch Netflix's "Amanda Knox" documentary.

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